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The latest from Denny & Claire, It has been an eventful few weeks around here with our regular duties plus several special activities. In that latter category have been a Wind in the Willows Brunch, our annual weekend getaway with our book club at the Prairie Creek Inn outside of Lincoln, two Christmas card parties (one we organized for our church, the other was for Vital Signs Ministries at our home), getting Christmas lights and decorations up, and a couple of Thanksgiving meals. It’s been a busy, but very pleasant time.

No matter what else is going on, however, we try to get in plenty of reading time. The biggest project in that regard for both of us was our book club’s November selection, Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens while the most delightful was The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Other titles that Claire has tackled included Everlasting: God's Faithfulness to Israel written by a British friend of ours, Stuart Cunliffe; The Last Hour by Amir Tsarfati; and Spirit of Steamboat by Craig Johnson. For my part in these weeks, I’ve read A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte; Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers by Brian Kilmeade; The Swamp Fox by John Oller; and The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas.

And speaking of books, I’d like to remind those among our “When Swing Was King” friends who are also readers, that available through Amazon are my novel A Christmas Room and 2 short stories, “Christmas on the Freedom Train” and “Winter in the Woods.” We have recently set “basement prices” on those items but, as a special incentive, for the 5 days of December 6 through December 10, Kindle readers can download them free of charge! Anyhow, let’s get on with other business. And that means our getting back to recording some poetry reading for you guys…and letting you loose on Number 40 in our ongoing series of activity packets. Have fun!

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Multiple Choice Questions 1) In what city would you have found Checkpoint Charlie? A) Washington, D.C. B) Berlin, Germany C) Athens, Greece D) London, England 2) The 1961 WWII movie that starred Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, and James Darren was… A) The Flying Tigers B) Up Periscope C) The Dirty Dozen D) The Guns of Navarone 3) In what year were poinsettias first sold in Philadelphia as Christmas decorations? A) 1833 B) 1910 C) 1927 D) 1945 4) True or False -- Of all the nominees in Academy Awards history, Walt Disney holds the most Oscars. _______ 5) In which of these Christmas movies did Bing Crosby star? A) The Bishop's Wife B) Rudolph's Ride to Glory C) Going My Way D) It’s a Wonderful Life

6) Switch hitter, bullpen, and the on deck circle are all connected with what sport? A) Baseball B) Football C) Basketball D) Tennis 7) Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities described what tumultuous historical time? A) The Crusades B) The Reign of Henry VIII C) The French Revolution D) The English Civil War 8) True or False -- “A Visit to St. Nicholas” (aka “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”) by C. Clement Moore was only written to entertain the author's family and wasn’t published until 26 years later. ____________ 9) This 1957 movie starred Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. (Hint: the title song became a Number 1 hit for Boone also.) A) Love Letters in the Sand B) Good Golly Miss Molly C) Bernadette D) April Love 10) If you’re listening to the original hits “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” then you’re listening to… A) Guy Lombardo B) Glenn Miller C) Artie Shaw D) Lawrence Welk

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11) When skydivers jump out of the plane, the traditional thing they yell out is… A) Remember the Alamo! B) Cowabunga! C) Geronimo! D) Happy landings! 12) The music for what Christmas carol was written in 1818 by an Austrian priest and was created to be played on a guitar? A) “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” B) “Adeste Fidelis” C) “Oh Holy Night” D) “Silent Night” 13) Which one of these men was NOT a Confederate general in the Confederate Sates of America? A) Ulysses S. Grant B) JEB Stuart C) Robert E. Lee D) Stonewall Jackson 14) To what group did the angels appear in the sky above Bethlehem with “tidings of great joy?” A) Wise men from the East B) Shepherds C) Herod’s court D) Joseph and Mary 15) True or False -- Scrooge’s deceased business partner in Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol,” was Martin Chuzzlewit. ___________

16) If it is noon in Omaha, what time is it in Modesto, California? A) 10 o’clock in the morning B) 11 o’clock in the morning C) 1 o’clock in the afternoon D) 2 o’clock in the afternoon 17) True or False -- Before Chuck Colson became one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century, he was known as Richard Nixon’s “hatchet man” and served time in prison because of the Watergate scandal. ___________ 18) At various times Billie Holiday, Helen Forrest, Mel Torme, and Tony Pastor all served as vocalists for this bandleader. A) Ozzie Nelson B) Billy May C) Artie Shaw D) Bunny Berrigan 19) The collar at right is of what type? A) Crew B) Sailor C) Turtle D) Notched 20) In the story (and subsequent film) A Miracle on 34th Street, who is put on public trial? A) The mayor of New York City B) A guardian angel named Clarence C) Hardrock the North Pole elf D) Kris Kringle (Santa Claus)

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21) Where in the world is Mount Kilimanjaro? A) Al Minya, Egypt B) Nyborg, Denmark C) Tanzania, Africa D) Queensland, Australia 22) True or False -- The setting for It’s a Wonderful Life is Bedford Falls which just happens to be a real town in upper New York State. _________ 23) What is the popular Christmas custom attributed to German reformer Martin Luther? A) Yule log B) Hanging stockings C) Attending church D) Christmas tree lights 24) The lovely country singer Crystal Gayle is a younger sister of… A) Loretta Lynn B) Glen Campbell C) Waylon Jennings D) June Carter Cash 25) What do Jack Buck, Dizzy Dean, Joe Garagiola, Howard Cosell, and Pat Summerall all have in common? A) They were all pro baseball players B) They were all sportscasters C) They were all novelists D) They were all Canadians

26) Which of these is NOT shown on a $1 bill? A) “In God We Trust” B) A picture of George Washington C) “E Pluribus Unum” D) “Federal Reserve Note” 27) Which of these Latino musicians gave us the hit songs “Donna,” “Come On Let's Go,” and “La Bamba.” A) Ritchie Valens B) Gloria Estefan C) Carlos Santana D) Julio Iglesias 28) Who announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the virgin mother of Jesus? A) Elizabeth B) The angel Gabriel C) Simeon D) John the Baptist 29) True or False -- The first commercial use of a bread-slicing machine was by the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri) in 1865. _____________ 30) The first one of these was made in 1844 and they began to be sold commercially in 1860. Now, over 2 and 1/2 billion are used every Christmas season. What are they? A) Christmas trees B) Outdoor lights C) Candy canes D) Christmas cards

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Can You Name These Christmas Movies? (Part 1)

* The Lemon Drop Kid * Ernest Saves Christmas * It’s a Wonderful Life * The Nutcracker * A Holiday Affair

* The Bishop’s Wife * Miracle on 34th Street * The Grinch That Stole Christmas * Polar Express 10) In which of these movies did Loretta Young co-star?

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Can You Name These Christmas Movies? (Part 2)

* A Christmas Story * We’re No Angels * Holiday Inn * Babes in Toyland * White Christmas

* Polar Express * The Bells of St. Mary’s * Prancer * Home Alone 10) For which one of these movies did the song “White Christmas” win the Oscar? (Be careful now. This is tricky.)

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Christmas Points to Ponder

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” (The converted Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol)

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred,

and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son,

Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.” (Marjorie Holmes)

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality.” (Washington Irving)

“May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph,

the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son,

and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.” (Ray Pritchard)

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” (Winston Churchill)

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a

woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

“The world has grown weary through the years, but at Christmas, it is young.” (Phillips Brooks)

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was

bigger than our whole world.” (C.S. Lewis)

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What Comes Next in This Song Lyric? 1) “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens… 2) “I feel pretty; oh, so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright… 3) “Strings of street lights, even stop lights blink a bright red and green as the shoppers rush home with their treasures… 4) “It is no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others He’ll do for you… 5) “Joy to The world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room… 6) “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be… 7) “Gone away is the bluebird. Here to stay is a new bird… 8) “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark… 9) “Tonight, tonight, won’t be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star. Tonight, tonight, I’ll see my love tonight and for us, stars will stop where they are… 10) “Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face…

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The Answers! Multiple Choice 1) B 2) D 3) A 4) True – 29 Oscars! 5) C 6) A 7) C 8) True 9) D 10) B 11) C 12) D 13) A 14) B 15) False -- Jacob Marley 16) A 17) True 18) C 19) B 20) D 21) C 22) False 23) D 24) A 25) B 26) C 27) A 28) B 29) False – It was in 1928. 30) D

Can You Name These Christmas Movies? (1) 1) Holiday Affair 2) Ernest Saves Christmas 3) Miracle on 34th Street

4) The Bishop’s Wife 5) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas 6) It’s a Wonderful Life 7) Polar Express 8) The Lemon Drop Kid 9) The Nutcracker 10) 4 -- The Bishop’s Wife Can You Name These Christmas Movies? (2) 1) A Christmas Carol 2) Home Alone 3) Holiday Inn 4) Prancer 5) White Christmas 6) A Christmas Story 7) The Bells of St. Mary’s 8) We’re No Angels 9) Babes in Toyland 10) 3 -- Holiday Inn What Comes Next in This Song Lyric? 1) “…Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things.” 2) “…And I pity any girl who isn’t me tonight.” 3) “…Hear the snow crunch; see the kids bunch. This is Santa’s big scene and above all this bustle you’ll hear silver bells…”

4) “…With arms wide open He’ll pardon you. It is no secret what God can do.” 5) “…And heaven and nature sing; and heaven and nature sing; and heaven (and heaven) and nature sing.” 6) “…There’s a shadow hanging over me. Oh, yesterday came suddenly.” 7) “…He sings a love song as we go along, walking in a winter wonderland.” 8) “…At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark.” 9) “…Today the minutes seem like hours,; the hours go so slowly and still the sky is light. Oh, moon, grow bright and make this endless day endless night. Tonight!” 10) “…With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.”